tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8901517597396220312.post521795515685180602..comments2009-11-27T14:33:59.731+00:00Comments on Being a better athlete: Sustainable consumption - clothingtobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03193313177196156720noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8901517597396220312.post-1927719333318354052007-08-31T22:14:00.000+00:002007-08-31T22:14:00.000+00:00Briefly - as there's lots of reading out there on ...Briefly - as there's lots of reading out there on this, which will be better informed, well argued, and scientifically analysed: CO2, among other gases, naturally occurs in the atmosphere and has the property to stop 100% of the solar radiation that enters the earth's atmosphere from being reradiated away from the planet's surface immediately. This means that our atmosphere retains energy, meaning that at the earth's surface we have a temperature above that of space (or just above it as the earth itself gives off heat as well). This is a 'one-way' mechanism because the wavelength of the energy is changed when it is absorbed by the atmosphere and the erath - being reradiated at a different level of energy which is retained to a greater extent by so-called 'greenhouse gases'. Increasing the level of these greenhouse gases (including CO2, methane, even water vapour has these heat trapping properties) will act to increase the effect of trapping energy. We focus a lot on CO2 because - despite its low level of occurence in absolute terms - it has a relatively significant impact in the amounts that we are emitting - the rate of release of CO2 due to anthropogenic causes (burning fossils fuels) is, by natural standards, high. You might argue that methane has four times the effect of CO2, but it is released in smaller amounts and occurs in much smaller quantities in the atmosphere (but we should still be concerned!). <BR/><BR/>On storms... a small increase in energy being retained in the earth's atmosphere should have an effect on weather patterns. The circulation of air around the globe (Hadley cells etc), and the ocean currents, are the mechanisms by which excess energy from within the tropics (where more direct radiation is received from the sun, therefore more energy received nearer the equator) towards the poles, where the angle of incidence with the sun's radiation is the least steep, and therefore the least energy is received. ie the natural system is moving energy around the globe in order to move towards equilibrium. High entropy at eh equator means more active molecules... energy transferred down the energy gradient. Given that more energy is retained in the equator (assuming that more greenhouse gas emissions lead to more trapped energy in the atmosphere) then it is a logical to conclude that higher entropy will have a knock-on effect on weather patterns. The formation of tropical stroms is one natural way of moving large amounts of energy from excess areas and trying to disperse it in lower energy areas. Storm frequency may well be impacted in some regions. Note that these 'extreme' events get more attention because of the catastrophe scenarios that attract media attention. Just as important will be more subtle changes, where desertification may gradually spread outwards from the equator, as aridity increases, other rainfall patterns will also probably be affected. If the ocean currents shift, for example, the Gulf Stream that brings warmer air to the UK west coast may move, meaning that the UK's climate may get colder on the west coast. Flooding is also an issue that deservedly gets some publicity. If global atmospheric temperatures do rise significantly (whether due to man's influence or not!) then the risk of ice cap melting is severe. Estimates on how much seas level will rise (due to ice cap melting, glacial+snow melting, and due to the oceans expanding due to increased temperatures) offer scenarios where many lowland areas will be flooded.tobyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03193313177196156720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8901517597396220312.post-67727700364144666262007-08-30T11:56:00.000+00:002007-08-30T11:56:00.000+00:00Please explain in your own words how CO2 emissions...Please explain in your own words how CO2 emissions cause warming of the earth's atmosphere. And while you're at it, do you believe that warming of the atmosphere causes more frequent and/or violent storms?BabyBreezehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17154877151508763218noreply@blogger.com